Invacare Ekes Out 2012 Profit, Despite 'Most Challenging Year'

Invacare manages a swing to 2012 black despite what CEO Gerald Blouch called 1 of "the most challenging" in the company's history.

Invacare (NYSE:IVC) weathered what CEO Gerald Blouch called "1 of the most challenging in the company's history" and managed to eke out a small profit.

But the home healthcare supplies maker still faces stiff headwinds, including the lingering after-effects of an FDA probe that crippled a crucial business segment, a stalled research & development program and downward price pressure from new Medicare competitive bidding rules.